Miramar

Approves

District

For Park

Taxing Arrangement

Still Needs 2nd Vote

MIRAMAR — Despite hours of protests from residents and environmentalists, city commissioners gave preliminary approval Thursday to a special taxing district for Blockbuster Park.

In a 4 to 1 vote during a public hearing at City Hall, the commission put the proposed $1.4 billion sports and entertainment complex one step closer to reality. Voting against the taxing district was Commissioner Daniel Lewis.

More than 70 speakers voiced their opinions during the 41/2-hour meeting.

Officials with Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. say they need the district to finance and manage the park they want to build in far western Dade and Broward Counties.

A second and final public hearing and vote on the taxing district is scheduled for Aug. 18 at Miramar City Hall.

The park would straddle county borders on 2,500 acres of land located mostly in the city of Miramar.

Blockbuster wants to build a baseball stadium, hockey arena, a water park and a Six Flags-style amusement park at the site.

The park plan has come under attack primarily from environmentalists, who say building there would destroy wetlands that serve as a drinking water supply for the area and act as a freshwater recharge basin for the Everglades.

Others fear the project would cause miles-long traffic jams, especially before and after baseball and hockey games.

"It is true Miramar has its problems, but Blockbuster is not our salvation. We are," said Ralph Fenger, of Miramar.

"When are we going to stop doing what is profitable, and start doing what is right?'' But some Miramar residents are thrilled by the idea of the park, which could employ an estimated 4,000 people a year during construction and 16,600 fulland part-time workers when fully completed in 2005.

The residents say the new commercial business, such as hotels and restaurants, that would most certainly follow Blockbuster Park would be welcomed in the now nearly deserted western part of the city.

"I'm glad to see Blockbuster choose Miramar," said Peter Maceri, a Miramar resident. "I don't want to pay any more taxes for roads or infrastructure. I hope the park will lower my taxes."

The bill tentatively approved by Miramar would give some governmental powers to Blockbuster at the park and allow the company to issue tax-exempt bonds for its construction. In addition, Blockbuster could charge an additional 1-cent sales tax above state and local taxes to pay for park operations.

The Florida Legislature on April 8 passed a bill that would give Blockbuster some special city-like powers and the freedom to obtain tax-exempt bonds.

But a provision in the bill required that it needed final approval from both Dade and Broward counties and Miramar. Both counties approved the bill on July 12.